Gabby Agbonlahor is certain one Manchester City player will still be in the England squad for Euro 2024.
Anticipation for this summer’s European Championship increased this week with the first international break of 2024.
Results didn’t go England’s way, as they lost 1-0 to Brazil and were then held to a 2-2 draw by Belgium at Wembley, but friendlies in both matches were at least positive.
It wasn’t an ideal fortnight for Manchester City, though, with both Kyle Walker and John Stones limping off the field injured.
The defensive duo are now massive doubts for Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash with Arsenal but at least Phil Foden escaped unscathed.
Jamie Carragher even said the 23-year-old put in one of his ‘best’ displays for Three Lions against Belgium on Tuesday.
Gabby Agbonlahor is convinced City player will make Euro 2024 squad
One City player who wasn’t involved in either match was Jack Grealish, who didn’t link up with the squad as he recovered from an injury.
City’s No.10 missed a couple of weeks of action with another groin injury and, though he was named on the bench for the FA Cup win over Newcastle United, he wasn’t risked for the international fixtures.
Gabby Agbonlahor believes Grealish will still be picked by Gareth Southgate over the likes of Cole Palmer but he needs to end the season strongly.
Speaking to TalkSPORT, he said: “I think he will look at the season he’s had and the injury problems and Doku’s come in and done well, he hasn’t played as much football as he would have expected.
“But he was fit before the international break for the FA Cup game, don’t think he got on, and he will know now these two months is go time.
“He will be so hungry to go to the Euros.
He will be like the best player in training, I know what he’s like the mentality, when he gets a chance he will take it.
“He will think to himself, if I can have a good end to the season, what I’ve done in the past with England, it should get me in the squad.
“I don’t think Gareth Southgate is just going to be like: ‘Anthony Gordon, yes you’re in, Cole Palmer yes you’re in.’
“No. I still think he’s still gonna have a few players like Mainoo who’s in but I think he’s still going to have them players like Grealish that have been there in tournaments.
“That can slow the game down. You talk about Conor Gallagher will he go, then you’ve got Henderson who will because he’s got that experience of knowing in a tournament what it’s like.
“The pressure, you can’t just go and pick loads and loads of new players.
“I still think Grealish has to go and have a really good end to the season but I do think he takes him.”
Grealish still has a big part to play this season
Grealish has struggled to have the same impact he had on the treble-winning side last season this term.
Injuries have derailed his campaign while Jeremy Doku’s emergence has made for stiffer competition.
Yet, it remains clear how important his qualities are to Pep Guardiola’s side with the way he helps control games and dictate the tempo.
City have seen big matches turn into basketball games without Grealish and City will need him in the big games to come, starting with Arsenal.
Grealish still has a massive part to play this season.
